A WORRYINGLY low life expectancy in poor areas, the diffic-ulties of bringing white and Asian communities together and cutting crime are key features of a study into life in East Lancashire, released today.

Inspectors have compiled a wealth of information about the performance of public services, including Blackburn with Darwen and Lancashire councils, police, health and fire bosses.

In Blackburn and Darwen, the Audit Commission said it had “significant concerns” that people were dying from serious illnesses at a younger age than in other areas.

It said life expectancy in the borough was “well below” the national average – by three years for men, two for women – and was not narrowing.

People living in the most deprived areas were dying on average nine years before more affluent parts.

According to the report, “few people” in the borough take exercise, although this is improving.

It praised the council’s Refresh initiative, which gives free access to leisure facilities, but said more work was needed.

And on the issue of community cohesion, brought to light by a high-profile review into relations in the borough, which said it was among the most divided parts of the country, the inspectors said: “In Blackburn with Darwen white communities and Asian heritage communities lead very separate lives.”

They said the authorities had built up good contacts and had the trust of the community on issues like anti-terrorism and extremism.

Tom Keena, a spokesman for the inspectors, said the borough’s neighbourhoods were cleaner, regeneration was improving the town centres, and crime was falling.

In a separate rating, Blackburn with Darwen council scored of three out of four for service provision and budget management.

In the rest of Lancashire County and Hyndburn Borough councils had the same score, while Ribble Valley was awarded a two.

In Lancashire, not including Blackburn with Darwen, “high death rates in deprived areas” were singled out as a concern, while it was given an “excellent” score for care of the elderly.